Patch for door pivot

ABSTRACT

The invention is a patch for a pivot hinge having an attachment lug, the lug being a substantially rectangular prism having a plate face and a cover plate attached to the attachment lug at the plate face, the cover plate being a substantially flat rectangular prism. The lug has two through holes that penetrate two opposing faces of the lug, other than the plate face, the holes being chamfered at one end and threaded along the remaining, non-chamfered portion. The plate is substantially larger than the plate face of the lug, and the lug and the plate consist of a single piece of unitary construction, and the thickness of the plate perpendicular to the plate face of the lug is 1/16 th  of an inch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hardware for doors, in particularpatches for holes that are left when door-related hardware is removedfrom the door and door frame.

2. Related Art

Pivot hinges are a popular mechanism for supporting doors. However, whensuch pivot mechanisms are replaced by a different style of hinge, e.g.pin-style hinge, there is either a hole where the pivot hinge componentswere mounted, or the pivot hinge components are left in place. In eithercase the hole or unused hardware is aesthetically undesirable.Furthermore, any holes left in the door and/or frame after the removalof hinge components could become a point of entry for things that coulddamage the door and/or building, including water, debris, or smallanimals. There is currently no product available that provides anaesthetically pleasing cover for holes left after removal of pivot hingecomponents, which is also securely fastened and can be removed later.

The present invention solves this problem by providing a cover, orpatch, for the holes left behind after removal of pivot hingecomponents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment this invention is a patch for a hole left afterremoval of a door-related hardware component, having an attachment lugwhich has a plate face and a cover plate attached to the attachment lugat the plate face.

In another embodiment, the invention is a patch for a pivot hinge havingan attachment lug, the lug being a substantially rectangular prismhaving a plate face and a cover plate attached to the attachment lug atthe plate face, the cover plate being a substantially flat rectangularprism, wherein the lug has a plurality of through holes that penetratetwo opposing faces, other than the plate face.

In a further embodiment, the invention is a patch for a pivot hingehaving an attachment lug, the lug being a substantially rectangularprism having a plate face and a cover plate attached to the attachmentlug at the plate face, the cover plate being a substantially flatrectangular prism. The lug has two through holes that penetrate twoopposing faces of the lug, other than the plate face, the holes beingchamfered at one end and threaded along the remaining, non-chamferedportion. The plate is substantially larger than the plate face of thelug, and the lug and the plate consist of a single piece of unitaryconstruction, and the thickness of the plate perpendicular to the plateface of the lug is 1/16^(th) of an inch.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the patch of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the inventive patch.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the inventive patch.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the patch of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the patch of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of the patch ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the patch of thepresent invention, showing the patch attached to a door frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

A pivot patch 10 comprises at least one lug 20 and a plate 30 attachedto the lug (FIG. 1). Patch 10 is made of any material suitable to theapplication including wood, metal, or plastic, or a combination ofmaterials. Lug 20 can be made of a first material for strength and plate30 of a second material for aesthetic reasons, i.e. to match thesurrounding material. To the extent that lug 20 and plate 30 are made ofseparate materials, the two pieces are securely adhered to one another,e.g. by adhesive or fasteners. Lug 20 is also called the attachment lugsince it attaches patch 10 to the door frame. The surface of lug 20 thatattaches to plate 30 is called the plate face, regardless of whetherpatch 10 is constructed of a single piece or two or more separatepieces.

Lug 20 is of substantially similar proportions to the lug of the pivotthat was removed and which patch 10 is replacing. The lug should be of asize and shape to fit into the hole left behind by the removed pivothinge component. In some embodiments (FIGS. 1-5) lug 20 is asubstantially rectangular prism, although this invention encompasses anyshape and size that fits into the hole left by the door hardware andwhich permits secure attachment. In one embodiment lug 20 has one ormore through holes 40 (FIGS. 1-3) to allow fasteners (not shown) to beinserted, allowing for secure holding of patch 10 to the door framewhile permitting removal of patch 10 at a later date by removal of thefasteners. In another embodiment where there is no need for laterremoval of patch 10, lug 20 (with or without holes) can be morepermanently held in place by the use of more permanent means such asadhesives or welding. When present, holes 40 are preferablysubstantially mating with those of the removed pivot hinge component, toavoid having to make new holes in the door frame to accommodate patch10. Nonetheless the present invention also encompasses patches in whichholes 40 are not substantially mating with the holes in the door frameand new holes must be made in the door frame to secure patch 10.

In one embodiment holes 40 have threads 45 (FIG. 2) to accommodate therespective fasteners. In a further embodiment holes 40 have chamfers 50(FIGS. 1-3) or other to allow the heads of the fasteners to becountersunk and thus flush with the surface of lug 20. The presentinvention also encompasses non-chamfered countersink holes that canaccommodate fastener heads having straight, rather than tapered, sides.

Plate 30 is of a size, shape, and finish to cover any hole left afterremoval of the pivot hinge components. In one embodiment (FIG. 4) plate30 is no larger than the size of lug 20, being essentially the same asthe plate face of lug 20. In another embodiment plate 30 extends outwardbeyond the edges of lug 20 (FIGS. 1-3). In still another embodiment,plate 30 is smaller than lug 20 (FIG. 5). Other configurations of plate30, such as a plate that only partially overlaps with the lug, are alsoencompassed within the present invention.

Lug 20 in one embodiment is attached off-center on plate 30 (FIGS. 1-3).In some embodiments plate 30 is flush with the door frame from which thepivot hinge component was removed and thus plate 30 in this case must bemade of substantially mating proportions to fit into the hole in thedoor frame; similarly the location of plate 30 relative to lug 20 isadjusted to accommodate the relative positions of the holes left by thepivot hinge. In other embodiments plate 30 stands proud of the doorframe surface, in which case the exact size of plate 30 is lesscritical, although plate 30 should be large enough to cover any adjacentholes, grooves, or other marks left near the hinge hole, primarily foraesthetic reasons although also to prevent entry of water or debris intothe holes. In the latter embodiment where plate 30 stands proud, thecorners on the outer face of plate 30 may be rounded or chamfered. Ingeneral plate 30 must be sized and positioned so as not to interferewith the operation of the door or hinge components that remain afterremoval of the pivot hinge.

In one embodiment plate 30 is approximately 1/16^(th) inch thick andextends outward from lug in all directions (FIGS. 1-3), although notequally in all directions. In one embodiment plate 30 is approximately 111/32 inch× 15/16 inch. Lug in one embodiment is approximately 1 3/32inch× 7/16 inch on the plate face and extends outward approximately23/32 inch from the plate face. Holes 40 in one embodiment areapproximately 3/16 inch diameter and their center-to-center spacing isapproximately ⅝ inch.

In practice patch 10 is used as follows. Hinge components are removed. Apatch is selected such that the lug of the patch fits into the spaceleft by the lug of the removed hinge component. The patch is alsoselected so that the patch has a plate with a size that covers any holeleft by the removed hinge component. The patch is also selected so thatthe plate portion of the patch has a finish that complements or matchesthat of the surrounding door frame, if desired. Finally the patch isselected so that the plate and lug do not interfere with the operationof the door including any locking, hinge, or other components.

After selecting the appropriate patch, the patch is installed into thedoor frame, preferably using removable fasteners such as screws or bolts(FIG. 7). In a preferred embodiment the holes and fasteners match theexisting holes that were used to fasten the replaced hinge components.In another embodiment the patch is more permanently attached to the doorframe by means such as adhesives or welding the lug to the frame. Inanother embodiment (FIG. 6) patch 10 comes without holes and holes aredrilled on-site to match the holes in the door frame. Alternatively, ifpatch 10 is made from a softer and more easily penetrable material suchas plastic, fasteners are driven straight through patch 10 inappropriately mating locations without pre-drilling any holes.

Although the above-mentioned embodiments have been presented in thecontext of a patch for a door frame, the same principles apply equallywell to patches to cover holes remaining after removal of hingecomponents from the door itself. Furthermore, the same principles alsoapply to patching holes in the door and the door frame left afterremoval of other door-related hardware such as locks, latches,doorstops, and automatic door opening and closing mechanisms. Thepresent invention encompasses patches for holes left by all suchdoor-related mechanisms.

As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, asdescribed above with reference to the corresponding illustrations,without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather thanlimiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention shouldnot be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims appendedhereto and their equivalents.

1. A patch for a hole left after removal of a door-related hardwarecomponent, comprising: an attachment lug having a plate face; and acover plate attached to said attachment lug at said plate face.
 2. Thepatch according to claim 1 wherein said cover plate and said attachmentlug are of a unitary construction.
 3. The patch according to claim 1wherein said cover plate is substantially the same dimensions as saidplate face.
 4. The patch according to claim 1 wherein said cover plateis substantially larger than said plate face.
 5. The patch according toclaim 1 wherein said attachment lug has at least one hole extendingtherethrough.
 6. The patch according to claim 5 wherein said hole isthreaded.
 7. The patch according to claim 5 wherein said hole ischamfered at one end.
 8. The patch according to claim 1 wherein saidpatch has two holes extending therethrough.
 9. The patch according toclaim 8 wherein each of said holes is chamfered at one end.
 10. Thepatch according to claim 9 wherein each of said holes is threaded. 11.The patch according to claim 1 wherein said door-related hardwarecomponent is a pivot hinge.
 12. A patch for a pivot hinge, comprising:an attachment lug, said lug being a substantially rectangular prismhaving a plate face; and a cover plate attached to said attachment lugat said plate face, said cover plate being a substantially flatrectangular prism; wherein said lug has a plurality of through holesthat penetrate two opposing faces, other than said plate face.
 13. Thepatch of claim 12 wherein said lug has two through holes.
 14. The patchof claim 13 wherein said holes are threaded.
 15. The patch of claim 14wherein said holes are chamfered on at least one end.
 16. The patch ofclaim 12 wherein said plate is substantially larger than said plate faceof said lug.
 17. The patch of claim 16 wherein said lug and said plateare a single piece of unitary construction.
 18. The patch of claim 17wherein a dimension of said plate normal to said plate face of said lugis 1/16^(th) inches.
 19. The patch of claim 12 wherein said lug and saidplate are a single piece of unitary construction.
 20. A patch for apivot hinge, comprising: an attachment lug, said lug being asubstantially rectangular prism having a plate face; a cover plateattached to said attachment lug at said plate face, said cover platebeing a substantially flat rectangular prism; wherein said lug has twothrough holes that penetrate two opposing faces, other than said plateface, said holes being chamfered at one end and threaded along theremaining, non-chamfered portion; and wherein said plate issubstantially larger than said plate face of said lug, said lug and saidplate are a single piece of unitary construction, and a dimension ofsaid plate normal to said plate face of said lug is 1/16^(th) inches.